Chapter 3

“Skai, your father loves you” his voice was calm, just like always, I felt his arms, my smile drawing wider on my lips until it was all laughter.

“I love you too daddy” I said, clutching my father’s hand tightly but the moment was short lived.

Suddenly the clean odor of antiseptics, the sharp smell, filling my lungs, I soon felt a hand on my body, feeling a surge of energy, I pulled my eyelids apart, a man in a white coat, his hand on my shirt, a pair of scissors in his hand.

“Oh, you’re awake” he said “We might need to give him sedatives” the man said, his white coat, glasses and fragile demeanor meant only one thing, he was the doctor.

“I’m fine” I said, trying to muster the manliest voice I could.

“You need medical attention” the doctor said, reaching out to my shirt.

“I’m okay doctor” I said, pulling out the wire from my arm.

“Sir, please… you need to settle down” the man said, I couldn’t hear him speak, the sharp pain had migrated from my back to my side “I’m alright, really” I said, using the soft bed as a support material as I stood up.

“Enzo, what do you think you’re doing?” Juliano’s voice emerged from the curtains, separating me from other patients who laid in the general ward.

“I’m..ugh..I’m fine” I answered, holding my sides.

“Give him the sedatives” the doctor said, his voice was low, my hearing piqued.

“I’m not taking a sedative” I said firmly, looking at the doctor, now standing upright, turning to Juliano “Just drop me off at the agency”.

“You’re injured” he said as I wrapped my hand on his neck, taking his weight to support my body “Just drop me off” I added, a hint of anger in my tone.

“If that’s what you truly want, then… I have no choice but to drop you off” He said, supporting me with his weight.

“You sacrificed your life to save mine, I’m truly grateful” he said, once we sat in the car, my body taking in the comfort.

“That’s my job Sir” I said calmly, looking at the window.

“At least your bleeding’s stopped” he said, turning to watch me in the back seat.

“Yeah..” I said, thankful in my heart for evading such a crisis.

“Let’s find someone who can help” he said to me, taking himself out of the car, watching me wince in pain.

“I’ll be okay, you’ve done enough” I said, my face moistened with sweat.

“The area might be infected” he said, walking towards me.

“It’s fine, I'll get it treated ” I said “Thank you and goodnight” I added , opening the door and shutting it right behind me.

Taking to my room, I quickly rushed to the cabinet, grabbing the disinfectant, I quickly took off my shirt, the binder wrapped tightly on my chest with stains of blood.

The first thing was first, I poured the disinfectant on the wound, the opened slit wound, relieved that it wasn’t deep, enough to puncture an important organ.

I sat in front of the mirror, using the best of my knowledge and body control to work for myself.

It was a long day but making sure I scathed through had become my priority. After cleaning up the wound, it looked as good as clean, I retired to my bed Tomorrow will be better’ I thought to myself as I held onto the dark sheets in the serene night.

My eyes pryed open at the sound of my phone constantly vibrating and ringing.

“Hello” I answered in a stale tone.

"How are you feeling?” The voice on the other wall so asked.

“Mister Juliano?” I asked, his musty cool tone reminding me of him.

“Yeah….got your number from my father” he said, as though being questioned.

I’ll be at work in an hour” I said firmly, taking my legs off the bed.

“Okay, I just wanted to find out if you are strong enough to come in today” he said.

“Yeah, I’ll be there soon” I said before putting down the phone, taking up a my binding wrap and heading to the bathroom.

Staring at my reflection in the mirror, my hair trimmed short, I put on my contacts, changing eye color was one of the things we learnt to be invisible to the eyes of those who might look for us.

Satisfied with my appearance, I rushed out, locking my door behind me.

“Second day, hope it’s better than yesterday” I muttered as entering the cab.

Walking into the fairly lit building once again but without the hostility, the lady at the counter stared at me, remembering my face almost immediately she asked that I be able to enter without a doubt.

“You arrived early” Juliano said upon seeing me, my black shirt and plain black trousers masking my identity completely.

“I can’t let the slip up of yesterday get the best of me” I answered, hands folded behind my back.

“That’s good, well, I would have let you have some rest, it’s just that we have an important place to be today” he said, swiveling on his chair, my hands still in place.

“Okay sir” I answered firmly, a candid expression on my face.

“Just like that? You’re not going to ask where we’re going?” He asked, puzzled for some reason, I’ve started to wonder if he doesn’t understand the concept ‘Bodyguard’.

“Yes sir, it is my job to follow and make sure your journey is safe” I answered sharply.

“Well then, the car’s outside, let’s go” he said, taking up his phone.

The moment he walked up to me, his light yet sharp cologne sifted through my nostrils, his body larger than mine, I watched him walk past me after a pause, still maintaining my facial expression.

Walking right behind him, I could notice the obvious difference between us in size and even demeanor, most people seeing is us for the first time would think he was my bodyguard instead, except, I seemed unfazed while he had a welcoming aura.

I approached the car swiftly, opening the door for him, just enough for him to get into and sit comfortably.

I sat by the passenger seat as the driver drove silently, his hands having a steady grip of the sharply black colored steering wheel.

The moment we arrived at our destination, I stared at the building in awe, still keeping an emotionless expression as I adjusted my sleeves, just in time to open the car door for my employer to make an entrance.

I watched the men stand at the entrance with so much vigor, their faces and bodies as though protecting the most valuable item in the world.

“Welcome Mr Bernard” a man who looked like he was in his late thirties said, extending his hand for a welcome handshake.

“Thank you Omar, Omar, right?” Juliano asked, taking his hand into his, in a friendly handshake.

“Yes, I’m suprised you remember my name, please come in” Omar said, extending his hand to the door leading to the internal part of the building.

I followed right behind “We can’t let you in just like that” one of the men in a black suit, white shirt abs a condescending tie said, putting out his hand, blocking me from entering.

“Please let him in, he’s my bodyguard” Juliano said, I looked at him, a bulging belly beneath the suit “You can do better” I muttered under my breath as I moved his hand from my face.

I walked in, following Juliano, Omar walked in front, placing his hand forward to indicate the path to follow. We entered an elevator that seemed secluded, just like the one back at the company.

Omar tapped on the button floor 2.

Once the doors of the elevator was opened, we were signaled to enter an uncommon room through a hardened door.

“Welcome, Welcome” a voice emerged from the room, I turned to look at him, the wrinkled face having no difference, it couldn’t be mistaken, taking deep breaths, I stared at him as he shook hands with Juliano.

“It can’t be” I said in a hushed tone, my eyes tearing up, his voice couldn’t be mistaken, his wrangled hands that held me, haunting me till this very day, the same hands which pulled me away from my mother, the lips that almost ruined my life, taking my childhood away from me.

“Tilard Collin” I said, now in an audible voice, the men in the room startled as they looked at me, puzzled, my glare strong and firm.

"Yes and you are?” He asked ‘The niece you sold to the brothel’ I thought to myself as I looked at his unchanging eyes, “Enzo, Mr Bernard’s bodyguard, I..I just know your name because of my research, you’re quite popular ” I said, forcing a smile, my hands clasped together as he reached out for a handshake, the very hands I want decapitated.